Paulo raring to do another musical–this time, for the stage

Paulo Avelino stars in “Goyo” as Gregorio del Pilar

We’ve long admired Paulo Avelino, as much for his taste in movies (“Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang
Kaliwang Paa,” “Heneral Luna,” “Debosyon”) as it is for his carefully calibrated acting choices (“Sana Dati,” “The Unmarried Wife,” where he manages to transcend the inherent limitations of his largely decorative role).

The 29-year-old heartthrob further enriches his mainstream cred with brave forays into the indie film scene: In Ruel Bayani’s “Kasal,” he figures in a romantic roundelay with Bea Alonzo and Derek Ramsay, while in “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral,” Jerrold Tarog’s much-awaited followup to the indie blockbuster “Heneral Luna,” the dashing actor plays the coveted title role.

It is precisely this thespic risk-taking that empowers Paulo to keep the fleeting nature of stardom at bay.

In 2017 alone, he starred in two of that year’s best films: Loy Arcenas’ groundbreaking screen musical “Ang Larawan” and JP Habac’s unconventional rom-com “I’m Drunk, I Love You.”

Admittedly, stardom wasn’t just handed to him on a silver platter. His long climb to the
top has been occasionally arduous—and he had to bide his time and work hard to get to where he is now.

Paulo first tried his luck in the fourth season of “StarStruck,” whose batch included Aljur Abrenica, Jewel Mische, Kris Bernal, Mart Escudero and Prince Stefan. He didn’t win the top plum, but he earned a place in the competition’s top eight—and the rest is history.

When we finally came face-to-face with Paulo for this chat, we realized that a huge chunk of the hunky actor’s charm can be attributed to his soft-spoken and self-effacing nature—as this interview demonstrates.

“It wasn’t easy. I had to learn the ropes,” he told us when we met him at his recent launch as Berocca’s latest celebrity endorser. “When I joined ‘StarStruck’ in 2006, becoming an actor was farthest from my mind. For the other contestants, it may have been a great way to get their foot in show biz’s door and become a star.

“In my case, however, I just wanted to meet people and have some fun. So, if [serious] acting is what you really want to do, I don’t think I’d recommend taking the talent-search route for newcomers.

“But, when I got into show biz and began getting acting assignments, it was fascinating to see veteran actors hard at work and very much into what they were doing. That was when I started taking acting seriously—I did a lot of research for my characters and watched a lot of films.

“I realized that if longevity is what an actor is going for, that’s the way to do it. Whatever fame I have right now is just a bonus. But, deep in my heart, I’ll always be an actor more than a star.

“As for my preference in films, luck is also a significant part of it. Sometimes, I stumble upon good roles in noteworthy scripts, or I get referrals from artist-friends who help each other out.”

Is acting something Paulo would encourage Ethan Akio, his 7-year-old son (with LJ Reyes), to pursue?

“I think that’s a choice he should make on his own,” Paulo enthused. “Whatever passion or craft he’d like to focus on and pursue, I’d support my son. For now, though, it’s important for him to finish school muna, because he’s still too young to think about show biz.”

Speaking of the much-buzzed-about Gregorio del Pilar biopic “Goyo,” we asked Pau if he was already feeling the pressure of approximating or exceeding the success of “Heneral Luna” at the tills, he quipped, “Definitely, meron. Sometimes, it’s scary to think about it. But, I tell myself not to think too much of the pressure and people’s high expectations because, knowing all the hard work Jerrold, his team and I put into it, I’m confident that it’ll be something that we can be proud of.”

When we noted his resemblance to the handsome hero of Tirad Pass, he initially dismissed our observation with a self-effacing and disarming shrug, “He was good-looking nga daw (laughs). I was told he had pinkish skin.”

Given his numerous film and TV projects, how does the actor stay fit? “Because of my schedule, I rarely get a chance to exercise. But, in my downtime, I try to rest or get as much sleep as I can,” Paulo shared. “When I wake up, that’s when I find time to run—or I squeeze in minor workouts during lunch or dinner breaks. If I get a free day, ’yun talaga, I go to the gym and sweat it out. When I’m home kasi, I just want to rest.”

Does he see himself performing in a stage version of “Larawan”?

“Why not? That isn’t a farfetched possibility,” Paulo answered as his sleepy eyes lit up. “Actually, I’d love to do a different musical—that, for me, would be a very tempting challenge!”